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Colorectal cancer (CRC) recurrence post-surgery remains a major challenge. While Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-engineered natural killer (NK) cells hold immense therapeutic potential, their intratumoral infiltration ability remains limited, hampering efficacy. Building upon prior research suggesting that chemokines like C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) recruit CAR-NK cells, we hypothesized that tumor cell m6A methylation, regulated by Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), influences chemokine secretion. This study aims to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and improve METTL3 inhibition efficiency. We designed an adhesive hemostasis hydrogel loaded with STM2457, a METTL3 inhibitor, aimed at sustained release in the acidic tumor microenvironment. In vitro, the hydrogel promoted CAR-NK cell recruitment and tumor killing via sustained METTL3 inhibition. The hydrogel's Schiff base bonds further enabled intestinal adhesion and hemostasis in an incomplete tumor resection model of CRC. Combining the hydrogel with CAR-NK cell therapy significantly reduced CRC recurrence in vivo. Overall, our study reveals the crucial role of METTL3 in CRC recurrence and proposes a promising, multimodal strategy using STM2457-loaded hydrogel and CAR-NK cells for enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

Despite the importance of the effect of subnanoscale roughness on contact line behavior, it is difficult to directly observe the local behavior of contact lines at the micro- and nanoscale, leaving significant gaps in our current understanding. In this research, we investigate contact line motions and their relationship with nanoscale surface topography using coherence scanning interferometry. Our experiments were conducted on the substrates with different wettability without changing nanoscale surface topography. Titanium dioxide was used as a substrate, the wettability of which was varied under UV-light irradiation. A ridge-like structure with a height of approximately 1 nm was observed to cause contact line deformation toward the droplet side, regardless of the direction of the contact line motion. This was explained in terms of an imbalance in the local capillary pressure at the nanoscale contact line. We also found that the deformation becomes larger on the more hydrophilic surface, which was rationalized by theoretical prediction based on analysis of the work done by the force acting on the contact line and the change in surface free energy associated with the deformation of the liquid/gas interface. Furthermore, it was revealed by contact angle measurements that the maximum pinning forces on a hydrophilic surface were less than half of those on a hydrophobic surface. We attributed the weak pinning force on the hydrophilic surface to cascading depinning, where the initial depinning event triggers a chain reaction of subsequent depinning events, driven by the conversion of excess surface energy to kinetic energy. Our experimental works provide new insights of the relationship between the subnanoscale surface roughness and macroscopic contact line motion.

The invention of the laser marked a milestone in modern science and technology. Inorganic second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals, with their unique frequency conversion capabilities, play a critical role in extending laser wavelength ranges. These materials are indispensable in laser science, information transmission, and other fields such as the industrial Internet. As Moore’s Law drives the demand for shorter wavelengths and higher-precision laser sources, the development of high-performance short-wave ultraviolet (UV) (<300 nm) NLO materials for UV solid-state lasers has become increasingly important. While researchers have synthesized a variety of NLO crystals, their discovery has largely relied on trial-and-error approaches, which are not only time-consuming but also serendipitous rather than based on rational design principles. Moreover, the complexity of designing these materials is compounded by the need to meet several strict functional criteria, including a short UV cutoff edge, a strong second-harmonic generation (SHG) effect, and moderate birefringence, all of which hinder efficient synthesis. The rational design and controlled synthesis of high-performance short-wave UV NLO crystals, therefore, remains a significant scientific challenge.

BackgroundTumourigenesis in right-sided and left-sided colons demonstrated distinct features.ObjectiveWe aimed to characterise the differences between the left-sided and right-sided adenomas (ADs) representing the early stage of colonic tumourigenesis.DesignSingle-cell and spatial transcriptomic datasets were analysed to reveal alterations between right-sided and left-sided colon ADs. Cells, animal experiments and clinical specimens were used to verify the results.ResultsSingle-cell analysis revealed that in right-sided ADs, there was a significant reduction of goblet cells, and these goblet cells were dysfunctional with attenuated mucin biosynthesis and defective antigen presentation. An impairment of the mucus barrier led to biofilm formation in crypts and subsequent bacteria invasion into right-sided ADs. The regions spatially surrounding the crypts with biofilm occupation underwent an inflammatory response by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and an apoptosis process, as revealed by spatial transcriptomics. A distinct S100A11+epithelial cell population in the right-sided ADs was identified, and its expression level was induced by bacterial LPS and peptidoglycan. S100A11 expression facilitated tumour growth in syngeneic immunocompetent mice with increased myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) but reduced cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. Targeting S100A11 with well-tolerated antagonists of its receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) (Azeliragon) significantly impaired tumour growth and MDSC infiltration, thereby boosting the efficacy of anti-programmed cell death protein 1 therapy in colon cancer.ConclusionOur findings unravelled that dysfunctional goblet cells and consequential bacterial translocation activated the S100A11-RAGE axis in right-sided colon ADs, which recruits MDSCs to promote immune evasion. Targeting this axis by Azeliragon improves the efficacy of immunotherapy in colon cancer.

Epigenetic mechanisms are integral to plant growth, development, and adaptation to environmental stimuli. Over the past two decades, our comprehension of these complex regulatory processes has expanded remarkably, producing a substantial body of knowledge on both locus-specific mechanisms and genome-wide regulatory patterns. Studies initially grounded in the model plant Arabidopsis have been broadened to encompass a diverse array of crop species, revealing the multifaceted roles of epigenetics in physiological and agronomic traits. With recent technological advancements, epigenetic regulations at the single-cell level and at the large-scale population level are emerging as new focuses. This review offers an in-depth synthesis of the diverse epigenetic regulations, detailing the catalytic machinery and regulatory functions. It delves into the intricate interplay among various epigenetic elements and their collective influence on the modulation of crop traits. Furthermore, it examines recent breakthroughs in technologies for epigenetic modifications and their integration into strategies for crop improvement. The review underscores the transformative potential of epigenetic strategies in bolstering crop performance, advocating for the development of efficient tools to fully exploit the agricultural benefits of epigenetic insights.

The recovery of kitchen waste (KW) is a crucial approach to alleviate energy supply shortages, and exploring efficient thermal conversion methods is of great importance in the energy sector. This study systematically compares the conversion performance of KW through torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) in the production of solid biofuels. The results show that with increasing treatment temperature, the product yields of both biochar and hydrochar as well as the H/C and O/C molar ratios decrease while the higher heating value (HHV) significantly increases. Biochar exhibits characteristics of surface fragmentation with fewer microspheres and disordered connections, whereas hydrochar forms more microspheres on the surface, has a rich carbon bonding structures, and significantly enhanced aromaticity. Under the same treatment temperature, HTC is more suitable for upgrading coal-like fuels as hydrochar has higher energy density and superior combustion characteristics. Energy balance analysis indicates that HTC yields higher net energy output at the same treatment temperature. Therefore, HTC shows greater potential for biofuel production compared to torrefaction. The findings of this study aim to provide a theoretical basis for optimizing reactor design and refining process conditions, contributing to further improvement of overall energy efficiency.

In this work, a bilayer lead-free perovskite ferroelectric structure was fabricated comprising a highly polar BiFeO3(BFO) bottom layer and a less polar (K1–xNax)NbO3(KNN) top layer. The BFO sublayer, deposited via radio frequency magnetron sputtering without postgrowth annealing, not only exhibited enhanced crystallinity but also promoted superior microstructural properties in the sol-gel derived KNN overlayer, thereby ensuring excellent intrinsic electrical properties. Compared to the poorly crystallized single-layer KNN films directly synthesized on LNO-buffered (100)-Si substrate, the KNN layer in the bilayer structure demonstrated a strong (100) texture, along with a dense, homogeneous, fine-grained morphology. The bilayer design effectively balances the limited polarization of single-layer KNN and the weak dielectric response of single-layer BFO. Furthermore, variations in BFO sublayer thickness reveal that the KNN/BFO stacking configuration and interface characteristics play a crucial role in tailoring the electrical properties, even surpassing the intrinsic contributions of the individual layers. The presence of the BFO layer enhanced the unsaturated polarization in the KNN film, with a more pronounced effect as the BFO thickness increased. The dielectric constant of the KNN/BFO bilayer consistently fell between those of the two single-layer structures and decreased with increasing BFO thickness, contrary to the trend observed in single-layer BFO. These results underscore the complex interactions among intrinsic properties, stacking configurations, and interface coupling in lead-free ferroelectric films, providing insights for future heterostructure design strategies.

Anisotropic surface lamellar defects, dimensional shrinkage, and bending strength are important scientific issues that constrain vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing of biological, electronic, and core ceramics with high precision and complex structures. Through the single-factor experiment of photoinitiator concentration, average particle size, volume fraction, and refractive index constant in ceramic-resin slurry, this work studies the photopolymerization characteristics and profile curves, surface lamellar defects, and crosslinking density, verifies the reliability of the photopolymerization profile equations affected by the slurry composition, and acquires the anisotropic property formation mechanisms and control methods. The single-point scanning photopolymerization profile shape is parabolic, resulting in x-, y-, and z-direction lamellar defects before and after sintering (1550 °C), with no obvious weakening. After the quantitative description of the lamellar defects, the average surface roughnesses before and after sintering of the green body are 6.82 and 4.92 μm, respectively. Additionally, the laser energy attenuation along the penetration direction induces a gradient distribution of crosslinking density in the photopolymerization profile region. The crosslinking density gradient distribution of the decay from the slurry surface toward the depth direction is influenced by the slurry component concentration, leading to a gradient of cured powder concentration, which induces anisotropic behaviors. Through the crosslinking density controlling, the average bending strength in x(y) and zdirections is increased by 63.19 % (46 %), the difference in anisotropic strength is reduced by 22.55 %, and the dimensional shrinkage difference of xand zdirections is reduced by 48.32 %. This provides a theoretical and experimental research basis for ceramic vat photopolymerization with high dimensional accuracy, excellent performance, and morphology control.

This paper introduces double cascaded reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) to non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) networks over cascaded Rician fading and Nakagami-$m$ fading channels, where two kinds of passive RIS (PRIS) and active RIS (ARIS) are taken into consideration, called PRIS-ARIS-NOMA networks. Additionally, new closed-form and asymptotic expressions for outage probability and ergodic data rate of two non-orthogonal users are derived with the imperfect/perfect successive interference cancellation schemes. The scenario is modelled around two non-orthogonal users and focuses on analyzing their communication characteristics. Based on the approximate results, the diversity orders and ergodic data rate slopes of two users are obtained in the high signal-to-noise ratios. In addition, the system throughput of PRIS-ARIS-NOMA in delay-limited mode and delay-tolerant mode are discussed according to the outage probability and ergodic data rate. The simulation results verify the correctness of the formulas and yields the following insights: 1) The outage behaviors of PRIS-ARIS-NOMA outperforms than that of PRIS-ARIS assisted orthogonal multiple access (OMA); 2)Use of PRIS-ARIS-NOMA is better than use of PRIS-ARIS-OMA in small transmit power threshold scenarios 3) By increasing the number of reflecting elements of RISs, the PRIS-ARIS-NOMA is able to achieve the enhanced outage performance; and 4) The PRIS-ARIS-NOMA has the higher ergodic data rate and system throughput than double PRISs-NOMA.

Diesel engine exhaust comprises nitrogen oxides (NOx) and soot particles, which cause serious air pollution. However, owing to the contradictory nature of NOxreduction and soot oxidation, a trade-off exists in the simultaneous removal of NOxand soot. Consequently, catalytic technology has become a hot research topic. This study prepared MOδ/Fe-Beta (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Cu) catalysts through incipient wetness impregnation using Fe-Beta as the support and explored the catalytic performance of the above catalysts. The results exhibited the good performance of the prepared catalysts. The introduction of Mn resulted in a lower peak temperature of soot combustion for the catalyst, and slightly decreased deNOxperformance of Fe-Beta. The soot combustion temperature was as low as 422 °C, and the temperature window for 80% NO conversion was 164–423 °C. The interaction between MnOδand zeolite can regulate the acid sites and produce sufficient active oxygen species for the catalyst. The catalytic activity of the MnOδ/Fe-Beta catalyst is due to its strong redox property, the appropriate number of acid sites, and sufficient number of active oxygen species. In addition, the catalyst had good stability and water and sulfur resistance, therefore it had great potential for future application in the simultaneous removal of NOxand soot from diesel engine exhaust.

• There is enough free space inside the multichannel hollow carbon nanofibers to improve the impedance matching. • The three-layer NiSe-ZnSe-C dielectric and the rich heterogeneous interface enhance the interfacial polarization. • The micro- and nanowall arrays facilitate a rich diffusion path, thus slowing down the corrosion process. With the rapid development of 5G technology and the interconnection of industrial production, electromagnetic pollution has become a serious problem. Achieving lightweight and controllable loads of absorbers while obtaining corrosion-resistant absorbers with high electromagnetic response properties is still considered a huge challenge. In this work, carbon fiber with a multichannel hollow structure is obtained by PAN/PS hybrid electrospinning and subsequent high-temperature roasting process. The spatial structure inside the carbon fiber plays an active role in optimizing the impedance matching characteristics of the absorber. In addition, bimetallic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derivatives are obtained by a precisely controlled ion exchange as well as a high-temperature gas-phase selenization process. The resulting introduction of a non-homogeneous interface induces interfacial polarization and improves the absorption behavior of the absorber. The analysis of the experimental results shows that the electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption performance can be effectively enhanced due to the mechanisms of interface polarization and dipole polarization. The prepared NiSe/ZnSe/MHCFs composite can obtain excellent EMW absorption properties in C, X, and Ku bands by adjusting the thickness. Structural design and component modulation play a crucial role in realizing the strong absorption and wide bandwidth of the absorber. Radar cross-section calculations indicate that NiSe/ZnSe/MHCFs have tremendous potential in practical military stealth technology. And the prepared composite coating can provide periodic corrosion resistance to Q235 steel sheet when dealing with complex and extreme environments. [Display omitted] Interface polarization induced by heterogeneous interface and dipole polarization caused by material defects enhance the electromagnetic wave absorption behavior of NiSe/ZnSe/MHCFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Na+storage performance of layered sodium trititanate is significantly improved by isovalent doping of Sn4+. The dopant expands the interlayer spacing and strengthens the Ti–O bonds.

The development of novel, safe, and efficient pest and disease control technologies for agricultural crops remains a pivotal area of research. In this study, by combining ZIF-8 and ZIF-90, a water-stable, pH-responsive bilayer MOF nanoparticle (NP) named Z8@Z90 was created, and tebuconazole (TEB) was added to form T@Z8@Z90, used for controlling peanut southern blight. The loading efficiency of TEB within the T@Z8@Z90 reached 26.15%, enabling rapid release in acidic environments triggered by oxalic acid (OA) secreted by Sclerotium rolfsii. In vitro experiments showed that T@Z8@Z90 can regulate the oxalic acid secretion of S. rolfsiiand destroy its cell membrane structure. Additional experiments revealed that T@Z8@Z90 reduced sclerotial formation, decreased the total protein content of sclerotia, and influenced their sensitivity to pesticides, thereby mitigating the risk of reinfection by S. rolfsii. Notably, T@Z8@Z90 exhibited efficient translocation within peanut seedlings, being absorbed through the roots and transported to the leaves. At a concentration of 200 mg/L, T@Z8@Z90 exhibited high safety profiles for peanut seedling growth compared to the TEB suspension. Moreover, T@Z8@Z90 is safer for earthworms than TEB SC. Overall, this study offers valuable insights for the management of soil-borne diseases in agriculture and contributes to the advancement of sustainable agricultural practices.

The cascaded H-bridge (CHB) based solid-state transformer is an attractive solution to integrate large-scale photovoltaic (PV) power plants into medium-voltage grids with high power quality in a controllable and scalable manner. The dc-link voltage balance of the CHB is critical to the lifespan of capacitors and semiconductor devices, grid-current quality, and the system's stable operation. However, with the conventional level-shifted pulsewidth modulation, the output power and dc-link voltage of each module are intrinsically imbalanced, which make the switching pulse permutation necessary. Although voltage balancing can be reclaimed using the pulse rotation scheme, the low permutation frequency in the existing methods increases the ripples in the dc-link voltages, which affects the maximum power point tracking efficiency. To tackle this challenge, a novel high-frequency pulse permutation scheme is proposed for the CHB-based PV solid-state transformer, and the implementation procedure based on an improved sorting method is provided. The proposed scheme can effectively ensure the dc-link voltage balance over a wide regulation range without the penalty of additional switching actions. The effectiveness of the proposed high-frequency pulse permutation scheme is validated with the experiments on a 3-kW prototype.

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) was used to fabricate Mg–Zn–Zr (ZK60) parts, with a thorough investigation of processability by varying laser power and scanning rate. The combined effect of these parameters, which determines laser energy density, significantly impacted the forming quality of LPBF ZK60. Dense parts (over 99%) free of visible defects such as pores and cracks were achieved at a laser energy density of 74.1 J/mm2. The formation mechanisms of pores and cracks were extensively analyzed concerning the characteristics of the molten pool and subsequent cooling behavior. The LPBF ZK60 parts exhibited extremely fine grains, with an average grain size of 3.2 μm. Both equiaxed and columnar grains were observed, with a central equiaxed zone in the melt pool and a perpendicular lamellar zone along its boundary. Additionally, the Mg7Zn3eutectic phase precipitated within the α-Mg matrix of ZK60. Immersion and electrochemical tests indicated that the XZ plane displayed superior corrosion resistance, attributed to fewer deformation regions and lower dislocation density. Furthermore, in vitro cell experiments confirmed that the ZK60 alloy possesses good biocompatibility.

• A PHI-based homojunction photocatalyst was fabricated via an ionothermal route. • The regulated crystallinity induced the differentiated band structure of PHI. • Interface combination and N self-doping contributed to S-scheme charge transfer. • HLPCN exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance for H 2 evolution. Fabricating homojunction photocatalyst is a promising approach to accelerate the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers, and to boost photocatalytic performance. Herein, a novel poly (heptazine imide) (PHI)-based S-scheme homojunction photocatalyst (U/T-LHPHI) is fabricated through an ionothermal synthesis route, which exhibits particular high and low crystallinity property, intimate interface combination, and locally N self-doping. The regulation of crystallinity contributes to the differentiated electronic structure in PHI, which leads to the establishment of internal electric field (IEF). The intense IEF and N doping level with electron extracting capacity synergistically promote the charge transfer from the high crystalline PHI (HPHI) to the low crystalline PHI (LPHI) following the S-scheme mechanism. Additionally, the strong interfacial interaction improves the interfacial charge transfer dynamics. As a consequence, photogenerated electrons with powerful reducing ability are maintained effectively. Upon light irradiation, the optimized U/T-LHPHI performs an H 2 evolution rate of 4880, 2416, and 2375 µmol g−1 h−1 in deionized water, simulated seawater, and real seawater, respectively, which exceed that of many carefully designed noble metal Pt containing photocatalyst. This work provides an important verification that the rational design and construction of homojunction photocatalysts could effectively enhance photocatalytic activity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a method for determining the 2-D peak wavelength distribution of multichip light-emitting diodes (LEDs) devices by relating their spectral properties to junction temperature and by considering thermal coupling factors as well. It is proposed that a theoretical thermal coupling matrix for 2-D photothermal distributions of multichip LED devices can be used to calculate the temperature distribution at a given heat power of each chip. Each chip combination was optimized and evaluated for thermal and spectral uniformity using the proposed method based on a thermal coupling matrix that considers the peak wavelength distribution in the entire 2-D space. The modeling technique was validated experimentally on three-chip modules by infrared thermography and microscopic hyperspectral imaging technique. The experimental results approve that the proposed approach in comparison to a linear method has achieved a more compact set of features along with high accuracy for temperature and peak wavelength distribution. The results clearly show that the prediction of peak wavelength distribution for red, green, and blue LEDs with the proposed model has the largest increase in accuracy, with an average accuracy increase of 67.1%, 40.2%, and 22.4%, respectively.

Impedance reshaping has proven to be effective to ensure the stability of the LCL-filtered voltage source inverters against the grid impedance variation. Lots of reshaping approaches have been developed to date. However, there lacks an intuitive approach for the engineers to quickly determine a proper one from various reshaping approaches. This letter proposes a graphical impedance reshaping approach, which can not only evaluate the existing reshaping ones, but also provide guidance to both explore the suitable reshaping ones for dissipativity up to the Nyquist frequency and tune the associated compensator parameters. The correctness of their theoretical analysis and the effectiveness of the proposed approach are verified by the experimental results.

This paper discusses the uncooperative target tracking control problem for the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) under the performance constraint and scaled relative velocity constraint, in which the states of the uncooperative target can only be estimated through a vision sensor. Considering the limited detection range, a prescribed performance function is designed to ensure the transient and steady-state performances of the tracking system. Meanwhile, the scaled relative velocity constraint in the dynamic phase is taken into account, and a time-varying nonlinear transformation is used to solve the constraint problem, which not only overcomes the feasibility condition but also fails to violate the constraint boundaries. Finally, the practically prescribed-time stability technique is incorporated into the controller design procedure to guarantee that all signals within the closed-loop system are bounded. It is proved that the UAV can follow the uncooperative target at the desired relative position within a prescribed time, thereby improving the applicability of the vision-based tracking approach. Simulation results have been presented to prove the validity of the proposed control strategy.

Graphene aerogels hold huge promise for the development of high-performance pressure sensors for future human–machine interfaces due to their ordered microstructure and conductive network. However, their application is hindered by the limited strain sensing range caused by the intrinsic stiffness of the porous microstructure. Herein, an anisotropic cross-linked chitosan and reduced graphene oxide (CCS-rGO) aerogel metamaterial is realized by reconfiguring the microstructure from a honeycomb to a buckling structure at the dedicated cross-section plane. The reconfigured CCS-rGO aerogel shows directional hyperelasticity with extraordinary durability (no obvious structural damage after 20 000 cycles at a directional compressive strain of ≤0.7). The CCS-rGO aerogel pressure sensor exhibits an ultrahigh sensitivity of 121.45 kPa–1, an unprecedented sensing range, and robust mechanical and electrical performance. The aerogel sensors are demonstrated to monitor human motions, control robotic hands, and even integrate into a flexible keyboard to play music, which opens a wide application potential in future human–machine interfaces.

Transition metal silicates (TMSs) are potential electrodes for aqueous metal-ion intercalation pseudocapacitors owing to their superior theoretical capacity and high structural stability. However, the narrow interlayer spacing and intrinsic inert basal plane of TMSs lead to sluggish ions and charge transfer, causing an undesirable energy storage performance. Herein, rich Mn vacancies are introduced in layered manganous silicates (M2–xS@FA) to expedite K+diffusion, while enhancing charge storage capacity and prolonging lifespan. In situ characterizations validate the K+intercalation pseudocapacitance mechanism with evident crystal structure and valence state variations in M2–xS@FA. Both theoretical calculations and electrochemical experimental evaluations elucidate the imperative role of Mn vacancies in enhancing K+diffusion kinetics and electron transfer through increased interlayer spacing and activated basal plane. Mn vacancies further boost the charge storage capacity by providing additional K+storage sites, while simultaneously reinforcing local atomic bonding within M2–xS@FA, thereby augmenting structural stability. The assembled aqueous asymmetric solid-state cell, featuring a M2–xS@FA cathode, demonstrates exceptional power and energy densities (144.08 W h kg–1at 375.80 W kg–1) and ultralong lifespan (100% capacity retention after 10,000 cycles). This work heralds a paradigm whereby modulating cation vacancies in layered TMSs significantly enhances K+storage and stability for high-energy intercalation pseudocapacitance.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been well explored as a highly effective characterization technique that is capable of chemical pollutant detection and identification at very low concentrations. Machine learning has been previously used to identify compounds based on SERS spectral data. However, utilization of SERS to quantify concentrations, with or without machine learning, has been difficult due to the spectral intensity being sensitive to confounding factors such as the substrate parameters, orientation of the analyte, and sample preparation technique. Here, we demonstrate an approach for predicting the concentration of sample pollutants from SERS spectra using machine learning. Frequency domain transform methods, including the Fourier and Walsh–Hadamard transforms, are applied to spectral data sets of three analytes (rhodamine 6G, chlorpyrifos, and triclosan), which are then used to train machine learning algorithms. Using standard machine learning models, the concentration of the sample pollutants is predicted with >80% cross-validation accuracy from raw SERS data. A cross-validation accuracy of 85% was achieved using deep learning for a moderately sized data set (∼100 spectra), and 70–80% was achieved for small data sets (∼50 spectra). Performance can be maintained within this range even when combining various sample preparation techniques and environmental media interference. Additionally, as a spectral pretreatment, the Fourier and Hadamard transforms are shown to consistently improve prediction accuracy across multiple data sets. Finally, standard models were shown to accurately identify characteristic peaks of compounds via analysis of their importance scores, further verifying their predictive value.

This letter proposes a novel initialization approach for satellite-based emitter geolocation utilizing convex optimization. We reformulate the non-convex geolocation problem into a convex form and solve it using second-order cone programming (SOCP). The resulting solution serves as the initial value for the original geolocation problem, which is then resolved through an iterative method. Simulation results confirm that this approach achieves stable convergence and maintains high accuracy across extensive areas. Notably, the method consistently converges to the true emitter location, even when the emitter is more than 300 km from the sub-satellite point.

Solid-state quantum emitters coupled to integrated photonic nanostructures are quintessential for exploring fundamental phenomena in cavity quantum electrodynamics and are used in a wide range of photonic quantum technologies. One of the most exciting prospects for integrated photonics is the potential for massive production of miniaturized devices on a single chip. However, the efficiency and reproducibility of light–matter coupling are hindered by the spectral and spatial mismatch between the single solid-state quantum emitters and the optical modes supported by the photonic nanostructures. Here we develop a platform and method for hyperspectral imaging of solid-state quantum emitters to address this long-standing issue. Spatially distributed and spectrally broadened InAs quantum dots are embedded in a GaAs/AlGaAs one-dimensional (1D) planar cavity that consists of two distributed Bragg reflectors acting as mirrors. By exploiting the extended mode of the dispersive 1D cavity and the way it shapes the out-of-plane emission from the quantum dots, we extract the spatial position and emission wavelength of each dot from a single wide-field photoluminescence image, with a spatial and spectral accuracy down to 15 nm and 0.4 nm, respectively. We then fabricate quantum light sources by etching the 1D confined planar cavity into 3D confined micropillars. Extension of this technique using an open planar cavity can be exploited for a variety of compact quantum photonic devices with expanded functionalities for large-scale integration. Our technology is particularly appealing for quantum photonic applications that involve the spatial and spectral characterization of a large number of solid-state quantum emitters.

With the exponential increase in the urban population, urban transportation systems are confronted with numerous challenges. Traffic congestion is common, traffic accidents happen frequently, and traffic environments are deteriorating. To alleviate these issues and improve the efficiency of urban transportation, accurate traffic forecasting is crucial. In this study, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the overall architecture of traffic forecasting, covering aspects such as traffic data analysis, traffic data modeling, and traffic forecasting applications. We begin by introducing existing traffic forecasting surveys and preliminaries. Next, we delve into traffic data analysis from traffic data collection, traffic data formats, and traffic data characteristics. Additionally, we summarize traffic data modeling from spatial representation, temporal representation, and spatio-temporal representation. Furthermore, we discuss the application of traffic forecasting, including traffic flow forecasting, traffic speed forecasting, traffic demand forecasting, and other hybrid traffic forecasting. To support future research in this field, we also provide information on open datasets, source resources, challenges, and potential research directions. As far as we know, this paper represents the first comprehensive survey that focuses specifically on the overall architecture of traffic forecasting.

This letter presents a multi-stage distributionally robust unit commitment (DRUC) optimization method for integrated electricity-heat systems (IEHSs) considering wind power uncertainty. To respect the non-anticipativity of uncertain optimization, a multi-stage framework for DRUC is developed. Then, a novel decision rule for continuous and binary variables to fill the limitations of typical continuous recourse is proposed, namely, piecewise mixed decision rules, which leverages the flexibility and scalability of nonlinear and binary decision rules. On this basis, the multi-stage DRUC problem is reformulated into a tractable form using dual theory. The proposed method can significantly reduce the total cost of IEHSs under wind uncertainty.

In this work, two tin(II)-based sulfates, Sn2OSO4and Sn3O2(OH)(HSO4), were synthesized via the mild hydrothermal method. Both compounds employ the Sn2+cation with stereochemically active lone pair (SCALP) electrons and non-π-conjugated tetrahedral anionic groups SO4as the functional structural blocks. Interestingly, the experimental birefringence of Sn3O2(OH)(HSO4) is 0.169@546 nm, approximately 42 times larger than that of Sn2OSO4, which is 0.004@546 nm. Detailed structural analysis and theoretical calculations suggest that this significant birefringence difference arises from the optimization of functional building blocks in coordination environments and spatial arrangements. Furthermore, both compounds exhibit ultraviolet absorption edges at 308 and 307 nm, respectively. This indicates that Sn3O2(OH)(HSO4) has the potential to be a candidate for an ultraviolet (UV) birefringent crystal. This study offers inspiration for further exploration of tin(II)-based compounds with excellent comprehensive properties.

The synthesis of N-substituted polypeptides is challenging due to steric hindrance. Here, N-alkyl poly(l-alanine)s, with controlled molecular weights (Mns) and narrow distributions, were efficiently synthesized by primary amine-initiated and acetic acid-catalyzed ring-opening polymerizations of N-alkyl-(l)-alanine N-carboxyanhydrides [NAlkyl-(l)-Ala-NCAs] in toluene of low polarity and low proton-accepting ability. The N-alkyl poly(l-alanine)s, with chiral centers at backbones and different alkyl substituents at side chains, showed a relatively extended helical structure similar to that of the PPII-helix of poly(l-proline). The elongation of the alkyl side chains and the increase in temperatures had negligible effects on the helix structure, as revealed by the circular dichroism measurements. The differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the polymers were crystalline. Besides, the NAlkyl-(l)-Ala-NCAs were capable of copolymerizing with other monomers, producing structurally diverse copolymers. The efficient synthesis of N-alkyl poly(l-alanine)s, combined with the structural tunability, hydrophobicity, crystallinity, protein-like skeleton, enzymatic stability, and stable helix, makes the polymers attractive structural units in self-assembly and the biomedical field.

Chiral nanostructures allow engineering of chiroptical responses; however, their design usually relies on empirical approaches and extensive numerical simulations. It remains unclear if a general strategy exists to enhance and maximize the intrinsic chirality of subwavelength photonic structures. Here, we suggest a microscopic theory and uncover the origin of strong chiral responses of resonant nanostructures. We reveal that the reactive helicity density is critically important for achieving maximum chirality at resonances. We demonstrate our general concept on the examples of planar photonic crystal slabs and metasurfaces, where out-of-plane mirror symmetry is broken by a bilayer design. Our findings provide a general recipe for designing photonic structures with maximum chirality, paving the way toward many applications, including chiral sensing, chiral emitters and detectors, and chiral quantum optics.

•A deep-learning and transfer-learning hybrid aerosol retrieval algorithm is proposed.•The algorithm leads to better AGRI AOD retrievals compared with previous studies.•AGRI AOD provides more detailed information on the aerosol event than daily MAIAC AOD.

Two antimony selenites, Sb2O2SeO3and Sb2O(SeO3)2, were synthesized by simultaneously incorporating stereochemically active lone pair electrons containing SeO32–and Sb3+. These compounds are structured with [SbOx] polyhedra and [SeO3] units within a two-dimensional framework. Both of them exhibit cutoffs at 300 and 330 nm within the ultraviolet (UV) range and demonstrate significant birefringence, with indices of 0.069 and 0.126 at 546 nm, respectively. These properties highlight their potential as UV birefringent materials. Structural analyses and theoretical calculations reveal that their exceptional birefringence results from the synergistic interactions between SeO32–anions and Sb3+cations.

Our study investigates the segregation of bitumen residues within the transport pipeline before disposal in the presence of coal particles in carriers and microbubbles. Coal particles decreased the bitumen recovery by 17% without the injection of microbubbles. In addition, the improvement in bitumen recovery efficiency by 6 mL of H2O2is negligible due to a small number of bubbles formed from H2O2decomposition in the flow. However, tremendous enhancement in the recovery efficiency was achieved with the simultaneous addition of coal particles and H2O2. Further increase in recovery was noted as a larger volume of H2O2was injected to form more microbubbles. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted to help understand the effects of coal particles and microbubbles. The simulation results illustrated that the introduction of coal particles caused bitumen contents to accumulate in the middle of the pipe. Furthermore, an increased volume fraction of microbubbles contributed to a higher distribution of bitumen at the top of the pipe. This study not only offers valuable insights for developing an innovative strategy to enhance the efficiency of bitumen separation in hydrotransport processes but also contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate interactions among bubbles, bitumen, and coal particles in a slurry flow.

The exploration of physical degrees of freedom of light with infinite dimensionality, such as orbital angular momentum (OAM) and frequency, has profoundly reshaped the landscape of modern optics, with representative photonic functional devices including optical vortex emitters and frequency combs. In nanophotonics, whispering gallery mode microresonators naturally support applications based on the OAM of light and have been employed as on-chip emitters of monochromatic optical vortices. On the other hand, whispering gallery mode microresonators can serve as a highly efficient non-linear optical platform for producing light at different frequencies, that is, microcombs. Here we combine optical vortices and microcombs by demonstrating an optical vortex comb on a III–V integrated non-linear ring microresonator. The angular grating-dressed non-linear microring simultaneously emits spatiotemporal light springs consisting of 50 OAM modes, with each frequency of the microcomb carrying a distinct OAM value. We also experimentally generate optical pulses with time-varying OAM by carefully endowing the spatiotemporal light springs with a specific intermodal phase relation. We expect our work to favour the development of integrated non-linear and quantum photonics for exploring fundamental optical physics and advancing photonic quantum technology.

Based on a defect-guided heteroepitaxial growth strategy, a ZnIn2S4/CoIn2S4heterostructure was developed, which delivered 39.69 and 6.08-folds of photocatalytic H2evolution activity enhancement compared to that of individual CoIn2S4and ZnIn2S4, respectively.

Supercapacitors are electrochemical energy storage devices with great potential applications. Meanwhile, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) determines the efficiency of some electrochemical energy conversions. This study aims at constructing, exploring, and optimizing Ramsdellite-MnO2@NiCoAl-LDH@CC (R-MNCA@CC) composites. The effect of microstructure and Al role on the performance is investigated when R-MNCA@CC was used as supercapacitor electrode material and OER catalyst. Coral-like R-MNCA@CC in-situgrowth composites were synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal method. R-MNCA@CC-2 (molar ratio of Ni:Co:Al is 1:1:1) performs the best with the largest specific capacitance, 1,742 F/g at 1 A/g, increased by 797% and 1,489% compared to that of NiCoAl-LDH and Ramsdellite-MnO2. The capacitance retention rate of the R-MNCA@CC-2//AC@CC supercapacitor is 80.1% after 5,000 cycles at 0.8 A/g. The overpotential for driving an OER to reach 10 m/cm2is only 276 mV, which is lower than that of commercial IrO2(300 mV). Noteworthy, we propose a view that is “competing to trigger redox reaction” of electrochemical active sites in LDH during electrochemical processes derived from a discrepancy between theory and experimental results.

The comprehensive management of a patient with chronic graft-versus-host disease skin ulcers after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is challenging. This report describes the case of a 53-year-old woman who presented with ulcers on her right leg 140 weeks after a bone marrow transplant. The patient received wound assessment and management based on the Triangle of Wound Assessment and Wound Bed Preparation 2021, respectively. Hydrogel and antibacterial protease dressings were applied along with systemic oral administration of moxifloxacin hydrochloride (two capsules, two times daily) and JiXueGanPian tablets (classic Chinese herbal formula; two capsules, two times daily), hospital-community-home continuous care, and patient-centered education. Finally, after 133 days of nursing, the patient’s wound was completely healed without complications or other skin issues. The use of hydrogel combined with the antibacterial protease dressing was a promising technique for handling this type of wound, enhanced by multidisciplinary collaboration. Of course, providing patients with education that focuses on prevention is necessary.

• Single-step heat treatment aids template etching and particle growth for successful development of hollow magnetic MXene@Co microspheres. • MXene@Co microspheres show excellent reflection loss capability (−57.32 dB, 2.5 mm) and wide range of absorption bandwidth (5.2 GHz, 2.2 mm). • The superior electromagnetic wave absorption performance is attributed to the constructed hollow structure, enhanced interfacial polarization and optimized magnetic loss. MXene is considered as a candidate for preparing high-performance electromagnetic wave absorbing materials due to its large specific surface area, rich surface modification groups, and unique metal properties. However, the impedance matching problem caused by its high conductivity and easy stacking properties is a limiting factor. In this study, a self-assembling-etching-anchoring growth method was proposed to prepare MXene@Co electromagnetic wave absorbing materials. The hollow structure of MXene microspheres constructed with PMMA as a hard template is conducive to optimizing impedance matching and surface modification. In addition, MXene@Co exhibits abundant heterogeneous interfaces, enhancing the interfacial polarization phenomenon during electromagnetic wave absorption. Meanwhile, the surface-anchored growth of magnetic Co particles forms a magnetic network, which provides a strong magnetic loss capability for the absorber. The hollow structure design significantly enhances the wave absorption performance compared to conventional MXene@Co composites, with a minimum reflection loss of −57.32 dB (effective absorption bandwidth of 5.2 GHz) when the thickness is 2.5 mm (2.2 mm). This work provides a meaningful reference for the design of MXene-based electromagnetic wave absorbing materials. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of high-performance is worth considerable effort in catalysis for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. To develop redox catalysts with superior performance for soot combustion, a series of MnxCoyoxides were synthesized using MgO template substitution. This method greatly improves the preparation and catalytic efficiency and is more in line with the current theme of green catalysts and sustainable development. The resulting Mn1Co2.3has a strong activation capability of gaseous oxygen due to a high concentration of Co3+and Mn3+. The Mn doping enhanced the intrinsic activity by prompting oxygen vacancy formation and gaseous oxygen adsorption. The nanosheet morphology with abundant mesoporous significantly increased the solid–solid contact efficiency and improved the adsorption capability of gaseous reactants. The novel design of Mn1Co2.3oxide enhanced its catalytic performance through a synergistic effect of Mn doping and the porous nanosheet morphology, showing significant potential for the preparation of high-performance soot combustion catalysts.

Crystalline materials have shaken their traditionally inflexible reputation and show the ability in response to external stimuli by macroscopic dynamic effects such as mechanical deformations or motions. Recently, the hybrid strategy has been proposed in Zhang’s group to design and prepare multifunctional flexible crystalline materials by integrating flexible crystals with functional materials (responsive polymers and/or other components with special functions), which expands the range of available stimuli and opens up a broad prospect for the practical application of flexible crystals in the fields of flexible optoelectronics, bionics, and intelligence.

Birefringent crystals are extensively utilized across diverse optical applications due to their unique property of splitting incident light into dual refracted rays, thereby modulating and controlling light polarization. The pursuit of promoting the birefringence of such crystals to facilitate device miniaturization has recently emerged as a prominent area of focus. In this investigation, we introduce two molybdenyl iodates, namely, C(NH2)3MoO3(IO3) and Rb2MoO2(I2O6)(IO3)2, conceived through a “cation–anion synergetic interaction” strategy. Each compound exhibits a one-dimensional chain structure. Despite processing similar wide band gaps (3.33 and 3.22 eV), these materials display a variance in their birefringence (Δn= 0.426 and 0.261 @546 nm). Notably, C(NH2)3MoO3(IO3) showcases the highest birefringence among all hitherto reported molybdenyl iodates, signifying its potential as a high-performance birefringent crystal. Theoretical analyses indicate that the C(NH2)3+cation, acting as a birefringence-active unit, significantly bolsters the birefringence of molybdate iodates. Moreover, the presence of extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions between C(NH2)3+cations and iodates influences the orientation of the highly anisotropic iodates, thereby further enhancing the birefringence of C(NH2)3MoO3(IO3). This research paves the way for the future exploration of organic–inorganic hybrid molybdenyl iodates exhibiting exceptional optical performance.

A series of β-ketoenamines was synthesized from various phenacyl sulfoxides bearing 1-methyl-1H-tetrazole and oximes in moderate to excellent yields. The proposed mechanism involved the generation of α-sulfines from sulfoxides through thermolytic elimination, regiospecific formal [3 + 2] annulations, and elimination of SO2. This protocol provides convenient access to a variety of synthetically valuable N-unprotected β-enaminones with absolute Zselectivity.

In the present work, we have successfully obtained two new UV antimony-based sulfates, NH4Sb(SO4)2and Ca2Sb2O(SO4)4, by a conventional hydrothermal method. Interestingly, both compounds share similar structural building blocks, such as SbO4seesaws and SO4tetrahedra, yet they endow discrepant birefringence values measured at 546 nm with values of 0.150 and 0.114, respectively, owing to the different distortions of the SbO4groups with SCALP electrons. Moreover, both compounds display large band gaps (4.32 and 4.43 eV, respectively), so they can be used as short-wavelength UV birefringent materials. Moreover, NH4Sb(SO4)2is a noncentrosymmetric compound, showing a frequency doubling effect of 0.2 × KDP. Detailed structural analyses and calculations confirm the source of superior optical performance and the reasons for the different birefringence of the two compounds. This work provides ideas for the following discovery of antimony-based optical materials with excellent properties.

The composition of human milk is influenced by storage and processing practices. The effects of thawing and warming practices on human milk composition remain poorly studied despite their prevalence in home, research, and donor milk bank settings. This review comprehensively examines the impact of different thawing and warming methods on nutritional and bioactive human milk components. While some components such as carbohydrates and minerals remain stable under most typical thawing and warming conditions, others, such as fat, immune proteins, bacterial and human cells, and peptide amine hormones, are sensitive to warming. This review has identified that the data on the effects of milk thawing and warming is limited and often contradictory. Given that numerous important components of milk are diminished during cold storage, it is important that thawing and warming practices do not lead to further loss of or alterations to beneficial milk components. Further work in this field will facilitate greater standardization of thawing methods among researchers and underpin recommendations for thawing and warming of expressed milk for parents.

Cancer pain seriously reduces the quality of life of cancer patients. However, most research about cancer focuses solely on inhibiting tumor growth, neglecting the issue of cancer pain. Therefore, the development of therapeutic agents with both tumor suppression and cancer pain relief is crucial to achieve human-centered treatment. Here, the work reports curcumin (CUR) and ropivacaine (Ropi) coincorporating CaCO3/PDA nanoparticles (CaPNMCUR+Ropi) that realized efficient tumor immunotherapy and cancer pain suppression. The therapeutic efficiency and mechanism are revealed in vitro and in vivo. The results indicate that CaPNMCUR+Ropiunderwent tumor microenvironment-responsive degradation and realized rapid release of calcium ions, Ropi, and CUR. The excessive intracellular calcium triggered the apoptosis of tumor cells, and the transient pain caused by the tumor injection was relieved by Ropi. Simultaneously, CUR reduced the levels of immunosuppressive factor (TGF-β) and inflammatory factor (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) in the tumor microenvironment, thereby continuously augmenting the immune response and alleviating inflammatory pain of cancer animals. Meanwhile, the decrease of TGF-β leads to the reduction of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) expression, thereby alleviating hyperalgesia and achieving long-lasting analgesic effects. The design of the nanosystem provides a novel idea for human-centered tumor treatment in the future.

Pipeline transportation is a vital method for conveying crushed oil sand ores and tailings in the oil sands industry. This study focuses on enhancing economic benefits by exploring the separation of valuable bitumen residues from coarse sand tailings within hydrotransport pipelines. Employing three-dimensional transient Eulerian–Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations coupled with a population balance model (PBM), we examine the aggregation and breakage of bitumen droplets under various flow conditions. The accuracy of the CFD–PBM model is validated against field measurements of velocity profiles and pressure drops. Our findings reveal that higher slurry velocities lead to intensified particle–bitumen interactions, resulting in reduced aggregated bitumen droplet sizes at the pipeline’s core. Additionally, variations in bitumen fraction cause shifts in the distribution of coarse particles along the pipe’s vertical axis with increased aggregation and larger droplets in the upper region. Notably, we demonstrate that smaller bubbles promote a more uniform distribution of bitumen compared with larger bubbles. These insights provide valuable knowledge for optimizing bitumen recovery processes and facilitate the integration of pipeline hydrotransport dynamics with downstream separation and extraction units.

As a revolutionary technology, reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) has been deemed as an indispensable part of the 6th generation communications due to its inherent ability to regulate the wireless channels. However, passive RIS (PRIS) still suffers from some pressing issues, one of which is that the fading of the entire reflection link is proportional to the product of the distances from the base station to the PRIS and from the PRIS to the users, i.e., the productive attenuation. To tackle this problem, active RIS (ARIS) has been proposed to reconfigure the wireless propagation condition and alleviate the productive attenuation. In this paper, we investigate the physical layer security of the ARIS assisted non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) networks with the attendance of external and internal eavesdroppers. To be specific, the closed-form expressions of secrecy outage probability (SOP) and secrecy system throughput are derived by invoking both imperfect successive interference cancellation (ipSIC) and perfect SIC. The secrecy diversity orders of legitimate users are obtained at high signal-to-noise ratios. Numerical results are presented to verify the accuracy of the theoretical expressions and indicate that: i) The SOP of ARIS assisted NOMA networks exceeds that of PRIS-NOMA, ARIS/PRIS-assisted orthogonal multiple access (OMA); ii) Due to the balance between the thermal noise and residual interference, introducing excess reconfigurable elements at ARIS is not helpful to reduce the SOP; and iii) The secrecy throughput performance of ARIS-NOMA networks outperforms that of PRIS-NOMA and ARIS/PRIS-OMA networks.